Nasa’s Orion spacecraft returns to Earth after moon orbit mission success

US space agency Nasa's Orion capsule splashed down into the Pacific on December 11, 2022, after completing an uncrewed mission to the moon and back in 25 days. The test flight paved the way for another Orion lunar fly-by planned for 2024, when four astronauts will be on board. Orion’s return coincided with the last time humans set foot on the moon, 50 years ago during the Apollo 17 mission.